In November, The Hartford Parking Authority started installing 250 solar-powered “pay-and-display” parking meters in downtown Hartford.  The project is just about complete and the city has managed to replace roughly 1500 traditional coin-fed meters with the $13,000-a-unit kiosks.

The new meters look pretty cool and are another part of the Mayor’s green initiatives.  Run by a small solar panel mounted on top of a kiosk, the meters cover several parking spots and still accept coins as well as credit cards. The receipt that the machines produce is then left on the dashboard for meter cops to view.  The minimum purchase is 25 cents, an increase from 5 cents.  The receipts can also be used in other areas of town that have the meters and I assume, for that day only.

The new meters have also presented a little problem for motorist.  It seems that the instructions on the meters do not clearly point out that the user has to place the receipt on the dashboard.  This has resulted in a number of folks complaining they paid and also got a ticket.  According to a recent Hartford Courant article, the Parking Authority will rescind the tickets if the user has the receipt.  The Authority will also have better signage mounted on the kiosks to address this issue.

The meters are made by New Jersey-based Parkeon Inc., which has more than 8,000 meters placed worldwide, including in Chicago, Denver, New Orleans and New York.

This new initiative is one more chapter in Hartford’s green story.  Last spring, the city announced it had partnered with RecycleBank to introduce single stream recycling in certain neighborhoods and this fall, under the Mayor’s leadership and the Hartford Superintendant of Schools, The Academy of Engineering and Green Technology was launched at Hartford High.  The City is also the only city in New England with a Fuel Cell bus for local passenger travel.

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Connecticut has several leaders in corporate sustainability and green manufacturing. Most of the national press focuses on companies like United Technologies and GE and their green initiatives but truth be told, we do have other corporate leaders doing some innovative things and one of them was showcased in a recent Business Week article.   

Global consumer products manufacturer Unilever, based in England but with several facilities in Connecticut, is best known for brands such as Ben & Jerry’s, Bertolli, Breyers, Dove, Hellmann’s, Knorr, Lipton, Q-tips, Skippy and Slim•Fast. The Trumbull location serves as Unilever U.S.’s home-base for most of its logistics and Home and Personal Care research and development activities. The Clinton facility manufacturers over 300 types of lotions, sprays, creams, and salves, all under famous names such as Suave, Rave, Finesse, Thermasilk, Caress, Vaseline, and enduringly, Pond’s. One interesting point is that the Clinton plant was a leading producer of Witch Hazel which was very significant to Connecticut’s economy during the industrial revolution and the plant started producing Pond’s Cream in the early 1900s.

The article discusses how Unilever and its laundry products division in 2005 started to implement green innovation into the product’s ingredients, packaging design and logistics with a goal to accomplish doing more with less.  And it seems to be working. As the article points out,

The virtue of the product is that consumers can wash the same amount of laundry with one-third the detergent. Smaller packaging means each bottle uses 55% less plastic, enabling retailers to stock three times the number of bottles in the same space, saving on labor and out-of-stock costs. There’s big savings for Unilever, too, in manufacturing and transportation. The company says it saves 500 million gallons of water and 150 million pounds of plastic each year. And the smaller bottle means Unilever can transport three times as much product in every truck, saving 26 million gallons of diesel each year.

The article does explain that the company’s laundry business in the U.S. will shrink as it focuses on emerging markets such as India where sales have been stronger. If you’re interested, here’s a link to the complete article.

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It’s that time of the year again when I take a look back and review some of the green stories I covered here during the past year. 

At the end of last year, I commented that Connecticut’s green economy was gaining momentum and was poised to grow in 2008.  The growing number of green buildings, the investment in green technologies and the idea of creating green jobs were just some of the themes that were fueling this momentum and creating a sense of optimism.  That all changed as the economy headed south this past spring and summer.  

Frankly, this year was the year of the down economy.  The green momentum that was gaining inertia in 2007, mellowed a bit this year but nationally and here in the state, there was positive green news; just not as robust as it was in 2007.  2008 was about surviving first and the green stuff second. 

For this year, I decided that I would look at individuals that had a significant green impact story that enhanced the state’s economy and/or image.  Here are Connecticut’s green rock stars for 2008, in no particular order.  I have also included a group of future rock stars.

Mark Summers, President and CEO, CNC Software, Tolland – Mark founded CNC in the eighties and he admits that while he is a software guy by trade, his passion has always been and still is energy.  CNC produces Mastercam, the most widely used CAD/CAM software in the world.  The company’s facility in Tolland is one of the greenest in Connecticut and is a mini Google and they started their green initiatives way before it was hip like today.  Besides having one of the largest ground mounted solar panel array’s the company also has thirty geothermal wells that provide heating and cooling for the building.  The company supports employees wellness with a modern workout facility, bike repair shop and user friendly dining areas.  Mark is committed to making CNC a company that will remain competitive in the new economy.

Beth Shluger, Race Director, Hartford Marathon – Beth presented one of the greenest world class marathons in the country this past October.  The race received national publicity because of the green initiatives that Beth helped to direct and implement. Assisted with knowledge from Hartford based United Technologies (UTC) and Windsor based ING Financial Services the race used biodegradable cups made from corn for runners on the route, sneaker recycling collection points and tree plantings along the route race as part of ING’s Global Plant-a-Tree campaign. And back from last year was the UTC Bubbler. Engineers from UTC designed the bubbler to allow for 40 runners to drink water at once and eliminate 10,000 plastic bottles.

Bryan Garcia, Co-Director, Center for Business and the Environment at Yale – Under Bryan’s leadership, the Center has developed a great program for the next generation of workers.  The Center has added to the education process by creating a platform to have a discussion about climate change and the coming carbon based economy.  The Carbon Finance Speaker Series has attracted some of the best and brightest to the New Haven Campus.  The Center’s open door policy of inviting and engaging the community to join the discussion is also encouraging and we look forward to participating in more discussions in 2009.

Christopher Zurcher, Owner/Managing Editor, CT Environmental Headlines, New Haven – Zurch, as he is known by close associates, has developed CT Environmental Headlines which provides a  daily on-line news feed service on environmental issues in Connecticut.  His updates have been timely and easy to sort through.  In fact, buildingctgreen.com subscribes to the service and finds it to be a great tool.  Chris has helped customers filter through the seamless amount of information produced daily and help them gain knowledge about what is happening around them and how they can participate.

Lise Dondy, President, The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, Rocky Hill - The fund promotes, develops, and invests in clean energy sources for the benefit of Connecticut ratepayers. Under Lise’s leadership over the last several years, the fund has gained both a national and international reputation and has become a model that other states are using to increase their use of green energy.  This past year saw the fund invest in several large commercial projects for solar and fuel cell installations and has just completed a round of RFPs for a small wind energy pilot program. 

Jeff Marshall, CEO, Green Earth Technologies, Stamford - The company relocated to Stamford from California this past February.  Since then the consumer goods manufacturer of environmentally friendly consumer products for cars, boats and gardens has made national headlines for their American Grown Base Oils. G-OIL replaces the petrochemical base of traditional oil products with an “ultimate biodegradable” bio-base. This base, called tallow, or animal fat, is sustainable and can be collected domestically with grown beef, pork, and chicken fat. The company has about 20 employees in Stamford and has laboratories in California and Oklahoma, a distribution plant in Michigan, its branding and marketing facility in Florida and its sales teams across the country.

Gus Kellogg, Founder/President, Greenleaf Biofuels, LLC, Guilford – Gus has developed a great company and brand and has managed to become one of the leading biofuel distributors in the state and this past fall received funding to build a biodiesel production plant in New Haven Harbor area with an estimated capacity of 6.7 million gallons per year. Its primary markets will be heating oil and transportation fuel. Greenleaf Biofuels will use a diverse range of raw materials including waste and virgin vegetable oils.  Gus has developed a business model that will is well poised to grow here in the Northeast.

Karen Lewis, President & CEO, South Arsenal Neighborhood Development Corporation, Hartford - Karen saw opportunity and grabbed it and should be applauded for her efforts to bring energy efficiency and green technology to the South Arsenal neighborhood here in Hartford. Last month, SAND with the help of United Technologies’ Building Community Excellence program, announced that it would build 100 Net Zero Energy homes year for 10 years. Construction begins early next year, with a pilot project of three two-family houses.  The homes will produce as much energy as they use.  The bonus is jobs will be created and these new workers will gain green job skills.

John Crosby, Chairman and CEO of Albert D. Phelps, Inc., Norwalk - Albert D. Phelps, Inc is the manager and a part owner of Merritt 7 Corporate Park in Norwalk.  Under Crosby’s stewardhip, this cluster of buildings along the Merritt Parkway are ENERGY STAR® rated, LEED® registered, and this past fall the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency named Merritt 7 one of the top 25 Green Power Energy Partner Leaders in the country. They were joined by the likes of Cisco, Intel, Kohl’s, PepsiCo and the 2008 World Series champs, the Philadelphia Phillies.

Mayor Bill Finch, City of Bridgeport - Earlier this year Mayor Finch launched B-Green 2020 (pdf),  a sustainability initiative that will incorporate best green practices for managing the  city’s buildings, operations, fleet of vehicles and it’s workforce. The effort hopes to also reduce the city’s energy costs.  Mayor Finch has made a strong commitment to have Bridgeport be the greenest municipality in the state.

Some future green rock stars in the making.

Jacqueline Ryan, Principal, Academy of Engineering and Green Technology, Hartford High School – The Academy was launched this past fall and Jackie has both students and teachers highly motivated to teach math and science with a tint of green.  The academy also will meet the requirements of  the National Academy Foundation’s Academy of Engineering program.  Dr. Christina Kishimoto, Sr. Director of School Design, Hartford Public Schools should also get some props for her efforts representing the city’s new vision for learning and support for the Academy.

Bruce Becker, President, Becker + Becker, Fairfield - Bruce and his firm should be commended for taking a risk and developing a huge project during the economic downturn.  Shovels have just broken ground in New Haven and 360 State Street will be completed in the Fall of 2010. The building will be comprised of a 700,000 square foot mixed-use development with 500 apartments (including 50 affordable units), grocery store, other retail, a parking garage, and an early childhood education center. The project plans on using solar and fuel cell power as well as green roof technology.

Abul Islam, President and CEO of AI Engineers, Middletown - Islam has announced plans to build the first LEED Platinum rated commercial office building in Connecticut. The former WFSB Broadcast Center is designed by Tecton Architects, Inc. for the Owner/Developer AI Engineers and the proposed 12-story, $40 million glass, metal and concrete tower hopes to break ground in early 2009.

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In a report posted on Greentech Media World’s Web site, cited a study by Stanford’s Mark Jacobson that ranked sources of fuel by how efficient they are both in production and use. Believe it or not, the report concluded that wind was the most promising form of energy.   Jacobson, a professor and expert in the field of civil and environmental energy, will deliver his findings to the highly respected American Geophysical Union next week in San Francisco.  Meanwhile, a report issued earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), stated that wind energy has great potential to help the country boost its renewable energy portfolio and reduce our green house gas emissions.  The report concludes that based on certain trends and factors, wind power capacity can grow to 20 percent of our overall power production by 2030.  That is a bold statement based on the fact that our current level of production is at roughly .4 percent. 

So does Connecticut’s economy and energy infrastructure have any skin in the wind game?  Maybe - and the state is putting a finger in the wind to help find out by funding several small wind projects.  The RFP released earlier this year by the CT Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) has applications from the City of New Haven, town of Oxford and Quinnipiac University.  In the case of New Haven, the Board of Alderman has approved a plan for the turbines and the town of Oxford has asked for two wind companies to conduct feasibility studies to see how viable wind is at two locations in town.  The Quinnipiac wind project will be part of the York Hill campus project.

Historically, there has not been much wind power generation in the state and these projects will start to see if there is opportunity and is it cost effective?  Technology has advanced and the state is helping to offset the cost so it appears that the time is right.  The much discussed stimulus package will also have some incentives for all types of energy development and those states with progress in certain areas will have a competitive advantage.  Many believe that Connecticut’s landscape is not ideal but does present some opportunity.

“There are not a lot of locations in the state with conditions favorable for wind power and the majority of these locations are along the coastline,” says Brian Krafjak, of Centerbrook Architects and Planners, the architects for the York Hill project.  “Quinnipiac University’s York Hill Campus is one of a few inland spots that show up on wind maps as having some potential.  The wind terrace site on the campus is 470 feet above sea level and from our onsite experience; there is plenty of wind up on this hill.  During construction of the TD Banknorth Athletic Center completed last year, we lost more days during construction to high winds than to snow and rain events.”

Wind is not for everyone.  A study at Connecticut College started in 2006 and concluded in 2008 found that it was not a good option and the investment was not worth the projected minimal load generated on a site at the campus.  The Oxford project is looking at two possible locations and studies are underway.  Evergreen Energy is one of the firms involved in the Oxford project and is looking at the High School as a possible location.  In addition to the site having great potential, there are added benefits beyond the energy eco-factor.

“Where you have good wind, it is actually more efficient than solar in terms of the energy that can be produced,” states Sharon Vocke of Evergreen Energy, in Southington. “The site we are looking at in Oxford has great wind, so there is significant potential for generating lots of power there. Furthermore, a turbine at a high school would be a fantastic opportunity for students to study wind and how wind power is generated. Perhaps most importantly, they would be seeing this technology in the works in their every day lives. This is a positive impact that can’t be measured.”

While the state currently has a strong renewable and alternative energy portfolio, there is now a strong possibility to add wind to the mix - now and in the future.  According to the DOE report mentioned above, the U.S. wind energy industry invested approximately $9 billion in new generating capacity in 2007, and has experienced a 30 percent annual growth rate in the last 5 years.  That has to be somewhat encouraging.

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In 1886, Avon Products decided to hire women to go door to door selling beauty products on commission.  The Avon Lady would build a network of friends, family and neighbors and rely on them to enhance the network.  The strategy worked for the company and made it a leader in the industry.  This week, my good friend Nathan at NLR introduced me to Green Irene, the new economy’s answer to the Avon Lady.

Green Irene is a door to door service that promotes and sells green ideas and endorsed products for homeowners.  Like the Avon Lady, Green Irene Eco-Consultants will visit homeowners in their community and give you what the company calls a Green Home Makeover.  The consultation costs $99 and takes 60-90 minutes and men are also welcome to become Green Irenes. 

The company does have a little niche in the new economy, though I’m not sure folks are willing to pay $99 to have someone tell them how to be more energy efficient and better managers of water and recycling.  They can tap the Internet and the thousands of web sites full of this type of information – not to mention attending free seminars and put the $99 toward doing some of the green enhancements.  Even Avon realized the power of the “new” internet and changed the Avon Lady to the Avon Avitar.   Just kidding, but in recent years the company has made sales representatives, as they like to call them now, more virtual and web based.

On the other hand, there are lazy people that would pay the money to have someone else tell/teach them what to do and others might feel more comfortable having a personal consultation because the home is a very important part of your life and is very personal. 

So is Green Irene poised to become an industry leader like Avon or is this type of model too old school for today’s consumer?  And does the internet pose a challenge? Starting any type of business in this economy is a risk. May not be a full time job but I could see it becoming a great way to earn a second source of income.

Filed under: Energy, Green Business, Green Jobs | 3 Comments »

The bikes will get from 15-20 miles on one charge and according to Wolf can take anywhere from three to fifteen hours to charge.  He added that Schwinn will soon come out with a model that only takes a half-hour.  They all come with a one year warranty and Bloomfield Bike will add a year.  The cost?  Wolf said the bike costs anywhere from $800 to $2,200 and there is financing available.

Bloomfield Bike is also committed to embracing green business practices internally.  Wolf smiles when discussing an energy audit that had him replace all his lights with CFL and install motion sensors that resulted in his energy bills going from $1500 a month to $900. Wolf also explained that the shop recycles used tires, metal and cardboard and the water bottles the store gives out are made from recycled materials.  Also, when replacing the batteries on the new bikes, Bloomfield Bike has partnered with MidState Batteries to have them recycled. The small retail store also encourages employees to bike to work and is now eligible for a tax credit from the Fed under the Bicycle Commuter Act, passed as part of the bail out bill in October.  The Act gives employers $20 a month tax relief for each employee who bicycles to work. It covers the cost of employer reimbursements to employees for buying, improving or repairing a bicycle or paying for bike parking.

As far as social responsibility, the company was recently featured nationally for hiring a disabled Vet.   Brian Tinsley was serving the country in Afghanistan when he was struck by a bullet to his head that left him blind.  The 25 year old was hired by Wolf after receiving training arranged by the Veteran’s Administration. Tinsley’s story has appeared on NBC and CNN and Wolf states in a recent article in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News that Tinsley has assembled more than 300 bikes this summer. “And every one of them was perfect.”  Wolf has also set up a home repair shop for Tinsley.

So if you’re considering a getting bike for that child or that loved one in your life this Christmas, maybe you should consider a hybrid.  The shop is open 7 days a week during the holiday season. Call 860.242.9884 to find out how late Santa is working!

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